His argument shifted from theory to visceral reality. "The awful experiences those students have often convince them that the West is riddled with discrimination that doesn't exist back home. I’m not exaggerating here. I’m talking about the micro-aggressions: the waiter who skips your table, the drunkard who yells slurs, the landlord who singles you out about 'messing up the kitchen' because of that tired stereotype."

Yixing concluded his argument with undeniable finality: "Sometimes the discrimination and injustice suffered by Asians are so awful that the supposedly 'good aspects' of the society they live in are all literally erased, leaving them with a dreadful memory of how they were treated. Since democracy and freedom have not made my personal, day-to-day living better in this country than it was at home," he challenged, his eyes connecting with Jisoo’s, "why on earth should I give your system a positive rating?"

Before Jisoo could interject, a hand shot up in the third row. A middle-aged man with an American accent, identifiable as one of the executive invitees, stood up.

"With all due respect to Mr. Zhang," the man challenged, his tone slightly defensive, "your argument mixes up our core ideals with our daily failures. Racism is a tragedy, yes, but the key distinction remains the freedom to actually protest that injustice. In China, that 'awful memory' you speak of often can't be publicly articulated without risking serious trouble. Here? We have the systems—the courts, the media, the democratic process—to fix those things. That's the superior value, isn't it? The mechanism exists for change, even if the change is slow."

Yixing received the rebuttal with a slight, knowing tilt of his head. He didn't rush his answer, letting the weight of the American's statement settle.

"Sure, that's a valid point," Yixing conceded smoothly. "But if you're dealing with micro-aggressions and macro-injustice every day, the difference between having a 'mechanism for change' and having an actual, decent quality of life is purely academic."

He then escalated the point, pivoting back to the information issue that Jongho had originally raised. "Yeah, I miss not needing a VPN to access Google—and Google only because it helps my work. But let’s be honest, getting a VPN isn't difficult, so that's not really the issue here. People blame that VPN is a barrier of 'freedom of information' and conclude that China doesn't have that freedom. To those who believe in this argument, let me ask you this: When was your last time seeing some good news about China on a mainstream Western media?"

He paused for a moment or two, the audience exchanging knowing smiles and turning their heads—a clear sign that Yixing had tapped into a recognized pattern of media bias.

"The question may seem a little far-stretched, so let me explain: I’ve seen so many hilarious, clueless questions about China, driven by pure stereotypes from people who’ve never actually visited. But when they finally do visit, they are always shocked by how safe and beautiful China is—super cool railways, awesome infrastructure. And the biggest shocker?" he emphasized. "Chinese people live freely, if not more freely than many Westerners, under the Chinese government."

He paused again, letting the gravity of his last claim sink in.

"Go look up the tons of forums and videos online—even on YouTube—written by Western travelers about their impressions of China before and after the visit. Seriously, check it out. The idea that studying or living abroad automatically turns someone into a Western democracy advocate? I believe that assumption is a tired, lazy premise."

Yixing circled back to his main point, gripping the mic like he was done arguing. "Yes, the mechanism exists, but if the social culture is so toxic that I have to constantly rely on that mechanism just to enjoy the same basic dignity my non-Asian peers take for granted, then the freedom to complain becomes merely the freedom to endure constant bureaucratic hell."

He delivered his final punch line: "The freedom to protest an injustice is a necessary mechanism, but it is not a substitute for the freedom from the injustice itself. For many of us, the latter is what truly defines a better society."

A heavy silence fell over the auditorium as Yixing's sharp rebuttal hung in the air. Jisoo waited a beat, soaking in the intellectual tension before finally clicking on the microphone on the lectern. She looked first at Yixing, then at the American attendee, and finally at Jongho, offering a respectful nod to all.

"That," Jisoo stated, her voice returning to its authoritative professorial register, "is precisely the kind of thoughtful, engaged discussion required to move past simplified East vs. West narratives."

She interlaced her fingers on the lectern's edge, gathering her thoughts "As an East Asian politics and ethics scholar, I believe both of your points are spot-on. Mr. Zhang nailed the failure of the Western ideal at the micro-level—where daily discrimination just shreds the promised value of freedom. Meanwhile, our esteemed guest was right to defend the big picture: the macro-level value of having a legal mechanism and accountability."

Her gaze swept across the audience. "Ultimately, the point of any modern government—whether it’s a centralized state or a liberal democracy—isn’t just the structure of its politics. It’s whether it actually delivers human dignity and a measurably better daily life for all its people. You judge the system by the tangible experience of its citizens, not by its fancy blueprints."

She offered a genuine, warm smile. "The big question—whether the mechanism or the actual outcome holds higher value—is a debate that crosses every border. It’s a huge philosophical paradox we in international relations have to keep tackling."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for providing such a compelling, firsthand account that forces us to question if political ideals actually guarantee superior societal outcomes. And thank you to all the speakers, including student Kim Jongho, for having the guts to initiate this deep discussion today."

She clapped her hands together lightly, signaling the end of the session. "With that, we are officially out of time. Thank you, everyone."

* * *